Assam
is synonymous with floods when you are dealing with the administrative and
governance related domain of disaster management. Flood is much more than just an occurrence. Here we
do not refer to it as the rainy season or as the Monsoon, it’s the flood
season. If you look at the local geography here, Assam is mostly the river
basin of Brahmaputra and the zillion other tributaries and distributaries.
Surrounded by mountains in the North, mountains in the East and the South too.
It’s like the rain gods planned an ambush. When we reached our district in late
June 2016, the first wave had already come. For the uninitiated, it’s not like
the entire area is under water for several months continuously. There are waves
and then the water subsides after 4-5 days. And then it happens again and again
over a period of four to five months. After a few weeks of our arrival the 2nd
wave of flood came through and given the huge impact it made, the same response
was to be provided in the relief work.
In
some of the far-flunk areas of the district, the water had risen to dangerous
levels. Taking cue from this, the relief work had already started. In the
District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP), we find the mention of the vulnerable
areas and the nearby areas where camps and distribution centers can be
operated. The local people are made aware of the safe zones where they shall
proceed during the floods. But there can be a catch in this as Brahmaputra and
other rivers here change their course quite frequently which eventually would
mean that the safe and high zones might change after a while. Ergo the need to
update the aforementioned plan regularly and ergo the need for all the
officials to be alert in these times.
The
NDRF team had already been deployed in the most vulnerable areas of the district
supported by the SDRF troops. In case the need is felt, the Army and the Air Force
are also taken in the loop. Fortunately, Tezpur is the headquarters of various
armed forces including Air Force, Army and several other Paramilitary forces. And
if the need be, we will have plenty of backup to handle the situation
accordingly. As the water levels started to rise, the Relief and Rehabilitation
branch of the DC office kicked into action and they started a 24 X 7 running
control room which monitored all the parameters. In case, some people needed to
be rescued from certain locations, the NDRF/SDRF teams were directed to such
places. It is interesting to note that, the local people are very familiar with
the high grounds and they know exactly where to go when the waters start to
rise. The long years have made them sort of an expert.
I
got the opportunity to visit several flood affected areas in our district with the Deputy Commissioner. That is when I realized how important it was to
actually go and visit such areas even when the extent is minimal. One visit by
the executive head of the district meant a lot to the people and lifted their
spirit and assured them that the needed arrangements would be made in a mission
mode approach. We also visited some relief camps which were set up in worst
affected areas. On the back end, it was also very interesting to learn how such
large volume procurement is done at such a short notice. It is all about having
a good plan and pre-disaster paper work. During the flood season they are
alerted to keep suggestive stocks of food grains with them in case the need
arises.
Apart
from the food materials various other items needed for survival are also given.
In case the relief camp has babies, baby food also needs to be given
separately. The relief camp is supposed to have various facilities including a
separate provision of toilet for women. All the requirements must be met to
ensure no endemics are spread. And hence it is quintessential to understand
that a comprehensive plan and logistics for all items must be worked out well
before, especially when we know the annual occurrence of floods in the state. It
was a proud feeling to see the administration at full throttle with everyone
giving their best and working in synergy. That same synergy needs to be ensured
in the pre-season as well meanwhile building embankments to ensure minimum
damage.
While
we were engaged with the relief work, we had a special visitor who came to
Tezpur in the times of the flood. A full size Bengal Tiger was reported seen in
the district on the outskirts but not very far from the headquarters. The Tiger
apparently came from Kanziranga National Park which is fairly near to our
District. Due to floods when 80% of the park was inundated, he\she might have
escaped and got lost. The Tiger had already injured one man in the morning.
Soon we all went to the field where the Forest officials were chalking down a
plan to capture the Tiger.
At
the spot, perhaps the whole town had gathered causing possibly a bigger problem
than the animal itself. Most of our time and energy went into dispersing the
crowd away at least at a safe distance.The tranquilizers were being readied but
that area was surrounded by large water bodies and hence came the possibility
of the Tiger drowning post the shot. So the team waited for the night to drive
out the Tiger. And it was during this wait that several thoughts came to me. The
whole man-animal conflict debate. Poor cat. In fact, I wrote a short story getting
inspired, CLICK HERE TO READ, sorry for the spoilers though. The entire area
was abandoned by application of CrPC 144 for every one’s safety. In the night
operation, various techniques were used to frighten away the Tiger through the
way it had come but only in vain. Finally it was captured in the morning and was
to be later released in the Nameri National Park. Great work by the forest officials
as always.
There
was the Tiger, caged, confused and possibly angry. As I looked into those fierce
eyes and as we bid adieu, to this tiger in the times of flood, I wondered who was
really the intruder?
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